"She would make a wonderful christian"

[NotFarEnough]

It's a pity, so many in the Church of Christ would make good Muslims if only they would renounce their false teachings and do what is right.

Quite a few would make decent human beings if they'd get away from the hard core for awhile and get deprogrammed. I know that some really do hurt when their church or family goes after somebody, but they've either been brainwashed into believing they deserve it or they're too afraid to object. In either case, silence in the face of abuse is what allows abuse to continue. Silence is consent after all.

[agricola]

I'd usually hear something more like 'so and so is such a fine person, it is too bad she isn't a Christian!' (where 'Christian' means 'member of the coc', you know).

Dear lady so and so was very likely to be a pillar of the local Methodist or Baptist church, usually. But of course, those aren't CHRISTIAN because the sof is wrong, obviously.

[faithfyl]

It's a pity, so many in the Church of Christ would make good Muslims if only they would renounce their false teachings and do what is right.

[B.H.]

It's a pity, so many in the Church of Christ would make good Muslims if only they would renounce their false teachings and do what is right.

Well, the Church of Christ has to understand that we can't please people. What people think doesn't matter. It is what Allah thinks and tells through the Prophet in the Quran.

I think the reason so many of them don't convert is because of the secret sinfulness in their lives.

A CoC preacher somewhere has a secret stash of elderly people in porn positions. Islam would make him get rid of his stash of 80 somethings banging each other.

Another preacher lusts after green bean casserole and it is his first love. Islam would tell him he should love Allah, and lose lots of his weight as well as need to flatulate so much due to eating less green beans.

Little old bitty would rather be CoC because she really is too lazy to want to get up and serve communion, lead prayers, ect. and her biblical interpretation is a way to make an excuse for her laziness.

Some psycho belongs to the CoC because of his uncontrollable desire to act and talk like an [derogatory term]. He can use his religion and supposed rebuking of error as the perfect cover to act like an [derogatory term]. In Islam he would be put in his place and made to behave.

[Ivy]

It's a pity, so many in the Church of Christ would make good Muslims if only they would renounce their false teachings and do what is right.

BH, I have enough self awareness to know that I would look horrible in a burqa. It kind of reminds me of when I was in my pentecostal phase. That no makeup, long dress, and pentecostal hairdo were just really unflattering. I couldn't bring myself to believe that a loving God would want me to be so extremely unattractive.

Little old bitty would rather be CoC because she really is too lazy to want to get up and serve communion, lead prayers, ect. and her biblical interpretation is a way to make an excuse for her laziness.

I do remember as a young woman {junior high and teens} being glad I didn't have to get up and do that. This was due to my social and performance anxiety. I was perfectly happy to sit back and warm a pew whilst others got up and "waited on the table", led public prayers, and blew hot air about this and that.

[singing with drums]

Several remembered conversations came to mind when I read this.
When I introduced my then-boyfriend, now husband, a Methodist, to my CoC older lady friends, then at the next service, one of the ladies told me "I used to be a Methodist before I became a Christian. Do you think he will convert?"
When the men's ensemble needed another tenor, somebody said "Let's go the university music building, and listen outside the practice rooms for a tenor, then convert him and recruit him for the group."
When my friend said she wanted to go to church for Christmas, and asked teenaged me when our service would be, and I mumbled something about how we would be having our regular Wednesday night Bible study. She went to another friend's church, and I felt guilty.
When my Jewish friend in college said that my outspoken faith was "refreshing, and inspired me to finally join the campus temple."
I am so very happy to be away, but the proverbial Ghosts of the Past linger.

[ena]

Did any of you ever hear a cofc person say this? It would be said about some non-cofc person (Baptist, Hindu, Catholic,
whatever) who seemed to fit the perfect cofc mold.

I think it's an interesting statement, as it shows a misunderstanding of the christian faith on multiple levels.

Well it happens. There are real Christians in Churches other than the one true Church. I had trouble when I ran into a Catholic friend that was an excellent Christian. That was many years ago when my eyes began to open. God is not in a box. Even with the temple he was both inside and outside. The CoC is really good at limiting you to a box. You don't really fit. I have been in various Baptist Churches. You don't find them as frantic about Baptism. They do immerse but don't scare you into it. Life is not black and white but many shades of grey. That can be a real problem getting rid of. Love your final comment. Jesus spoke with many levels of meaning. Is it OK to heal on the Sabbath? He was doing work after all.

[Ivy]

Did any of you ever hear a cofc person say this? It would be said about some non-cofc person (Baptist, Hindu, Catholic,
whatever) who seemed to fit the perfect cofc mold.

I think it's an interesting statement, as it shows a misunderstanding of the christian faith on multiple levels.

Well it happens. There are real Christians in Churches other than the one true Church. I had trouble when I ran into a Catholic friend that was an excellent Christian. That was many years ago when my eyes began to open. God is not in a box. Even with the temple he was both inside and outside. The CoC is really good at limiting you to a box. You don't really fit. I have been in various Baptist Churches. You don't find them as frantic about Baptism. They do immerse but don't scare you into it. Life is not black and white but many shades of grey. That can be a real problem getting rid of. Love your final comment. Jesus spoke with many levels of meaning. Is it OK to heal on the Sabbath? He was doing work after all.

ENA, just wondering if you understood my point. Your post seems to indicate you didn't, but correct me if I'm wrong.

[Struggler]

Occasionally, I try to imagine some of my non-C of C friends being part of the C of C. It's always amusing!

[faithfyl]

I never felt like it was in my heart to try to convert anybody.